Article Gold Open Access 2023

Factors Affecting the Competence of Quantity Surveying Professionals in Zimbabwe

Journal of Construction in Developing Countries
Journal · Vol. 28 · Issue 2 · pp. 1-17
Abstract

The increased complexity of construction projects necessitates the need for quantity surveying professionals to achieve and maintain the highest levels of competency. However, various factors have inhibited their expected professional practice aptitude. Hence, this study reported on the factors affecting the competency of surveying professionals. A questionnaire-based descriptive survey strategy was undertaken to collect quantitative data from both consultant quantity surveyors and contractor quantity surveyors on the factors that influence their competence. The factor analysis revealed four significant components, including inadequate project and professional practice, inadequate academic and technological advances, inadequate organisational structure and teamwork and unclear individual career development goals. In addition, an assessment of the statistically significant differences based on the ranking by consultant and contractor quantity surveyors was undertaken. Contractor quantity surveyors consider inadequate polytechnic education and training, inconsistent project implementation strategies and unclear organisation development goals as impacting most negatively on the competence of quantity surveying professionals. This finding reveals a need to establish collaboration between higher education institutions and professional bodies for the development and implementation of relevant strategic plans to resolve these inadequacies. Also, organisational development goals and project implementation strategies are relevant and important for contractors as opposed to firm consultants. The withdrawal of primary data from quantity surveying professionals was the only limitation; however, the factors primarily affecting quantity surveyors and their insights are vital. © Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2023. This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Keywords

Author Keywords

developing countries Competence of quantity surveyors Construction projects Consultant quantity surveyors Contractor quantity surveyors

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Quantity Surveying, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Department of Property Studies and Urban Design, National University of Science and Technology Bulawayo, Bulawayo, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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